(SACRAMENTO, CA) - Assemblymember Shirley N. Weber (D – San Diego) announced today that she will hold a press conference in her district regarding George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the Trayvon Martin shooting death trial.

The press conference will take place this Thursday, July 18th, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hall of Justice – Superior Courthouse located at 330 W. Broadway, San Diego, CA 92102.

“I am utterly heartbroken for Ms. Sybrina Fulton and Mr. Tracy Martin. The system failed to provide any type of justice for their son, Trayvon. It is an outrage that this country continues to place a different value on the lives of others, including men, women and children of black or African descent. Our resolve is strengthened, and our cause righteous - we must be ever vigilant in our fight for social justice,” said Assemblymember Weber, who is asking all social justice and faith based organizations, community leaders and community members to attend this Thursday’s press conference as a means of demonstrating their unwavering support for addressing the underlying issues associated with the case, such as racial profiling and inequality of justice.

“It is clear that many people fail to recognize the impact that racial profiling and stereotyping have had on all our values, beliefs, relationships, impulse, and decision making. This tragedy reinforces the fact that we must all work hard to heal our hearts, to expose and expunge racism everywhere it exists, to repair our communities and to build toward a just society. We must do so with dignity and in peaceful fashion,” she said.

The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) is formally supporting and working in concert with Assemblymember Weber for her upcoming event on August 28th, 2013 at the State Capitol which will commemorate the 50year anniversary of the March on Washington, which will highlight how it served as a catalyst for the passage of landmark reforms including the Voting and Civil Rights Acts. The event will also focus on topics relating to equal opportunity as well as further explore the circumstances surrounding Trayvon Martin’s death and examine George Zimmerman’s murder trial and not-guilty verdict.

In a press release issued on the subject today, the CLBC announced its collective decision to protest in Trayvon Martin’s memory by boycotting Florida conventions and conferences. The press release also noted the CLBC’s intention to work with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) on the matter.

“We must begin by challenging the justice system's failure to value and protect the lives of people of color, specifically black males, irrespective of whether or not it is intentional. We must also educate the people of our own communities who may remain complacent over both the decision made by the Florida jury in the George Zimmerman Trial and the institutional racism that occurs on a daily basis in our lives. Although it may have occurred under the most tragic circumstances, this case has re-energized the movement to end racial profiling in the United States. As a nation, we must work toward realizing changes to the very laws that foster these types of outcomes,” the Assemblymember Weber stated.